Analytical Expressions for the Depth Investigation Characteristic and Mean Sensitivity Depth for Electrical Resistivity Surveys Using Long Electrodes.
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| Title: | Analytical Expressions for the Depth Investigation Characteristic and Mean Sensitivity Depth for Electrical Resistivity Surveys Using Long Electrodes. |
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| Authors: | Butler, S. L.1 (AUTHOR) sam.butler@usask.ca |
| Source: | Geophysical Prospecting. May2026, Vol. 74 Issue 4, p1-16. 16p. |
| Subjects: | Electrodes, Electrical resistivity, Measurement, Environmental engineering, Mathematical formulas |
| Abstract: | In analyses of the electrical resistivity method, it is usually assumed that electrodes can be represented as point current sources and point potential measurements. However, if electrodes extend into the ground to depths that are similar to their spacing or greater, this approximation may not be valid. The use of metal‐cased boreholes as electrodes and high‐resolution environmental and engineering surveys are situations where electrodes are often long. The analysis of resistivity data has benefited from the existence of a simple analytical formula for the depth variation of the sensitivity termed the depth investigation characteristic. This depth‐dependent function is calculated from the horizontally averaged sensitivity function for an infinite homogeneous half‐space. The peak, median and mean of this function have been used to estimate the depth of investigation and as a depth coordinate for pseudosections. In this contribution, I present an analytical formula for the depth investigation characteristic for long electrodes modelled as line current sources and line potential measurements. The depth investigation characteristic is also used to calculate an analytical expression for the mean depth for pole–dipole and four‐electrode arrays that can be used to estimate the depth of investigation and used as a depth coordinate for pseudosections when one or more long electrodes are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Geophysical Prospecting is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 194013192 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Analytical Expressions for the Depth Investigation Characteristic and Mean Sensitivity Depth for Electrical Resistivity Surveys Using Long Electrodes. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Butler%2C+S%2E+L%2E%22">Butler, S. L.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> sam.butler@usask.ca</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Geophysical+Prospecting%22">Geophysical Prospecting</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 74 Issue 4, p1-16. 16p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electrodes%22">Electrodes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electrical+resistivity%22">Electrical resistivity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Measurement%22">Measurement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+engineering%22">Environmental engineering</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mathematical+formulas%22">Mathematical formulas</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: In analyses of the electrical resistivity method, it is usually assumed that electrodes can be represented as point current sources and point potential measurements. However, if electrodes extend into the ground to depths that are similar to their spacing or greater, this approximation may not be valid. The use of metal‐cased boreholes as electrodes and high‐resolution environmental and engineering surveys are situations where electrodes are often long. The analysis of resistivity data has benefited from the existence of a simple analytical formula for the depth variation of the sensitivity termed the depth investigation characteristic. This depth‐dependent function is calculated from the horizontally averaged sensitivity function for an infinite homogeneous half‐space. The peak, median and mean of this function have been used to estimate the depth of investigation and as a depth coordinate for pseudosections. In this contribution, I present an analytical formula for the depth investigation characteristic for long electrodes modelled as line current sources and line potential measurements. The depth investigation characteristic is also used to calculate an analytical expression for the mean depth for pole–dipole and four‐electrode arrays that can be used to estimate the depth of investigation and used as a depth coordinate for pseudosections when one or more long electrodes are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Geophysical Prospecting is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1111/1365-2478.70189 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 16 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Electrodes Type: general – SubjectFull: Electrical resistivity Type: general – SubjectFull: Measurement Type: general – SubjectFull: Environmental engineering Type: general – SubjectFull: Mathematical formulas Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Analytical Expressions for the Depth Investigation Characteristic and Mean Sensitivity Depth for Electrical Resistivity Surveys Using Long Electrodes. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Butler, S. L. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 05 Text: May2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00168025 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 74 – Type: issue Value: 4 Titles: – TitleFull: Geophysical Prospecting Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
